Monday, 16 July 2001 Media Statement
Hodgson to Bonn for climate talks
Pete Hodgson, Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, departs for Germany tomorrow to represent New Zealand
at a world conference on climate change.
The conference is the resumed Sixth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, or COP 6.5 for short. The Sixth Session began at The Hague in November last year but was suspended
when negotiations ended without result.
Ministers and officials at the conference will attempt to finalise rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol, an
addition to the Framework Convention that would set legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for
developed nations. New Zealand's target would be to stabilise emissions at 1990 levels over the 2008-2012 commitment
period.
"The Government's intention remains to ratify the Kyoto Protocol next year," Mr Hodgson said. "My aim in these
negotiations is to work towards agreement on rules for implementing the Protocol. Key areas in which New Zealand wants
to see progress are international carbon trading mechanisms, recognition of carbon sinks and compliance.
"New Zealand wants rules on these matters that are easy to understand and hard to break. We want a Protocol that has
environmental integrity. We are under no illusions that progress at this meeting may be difficult given the approach
being taken by the United States. But the New Zealand Government considers that the Kyoto Protocol is the only realistic
opportunity the world has at present for a coordinated response to climate change."
The official website for the conference is:
http://www.unfccc.org/cop6_2/index.html
For more information on the New Zealand Climate Change Programme:
www.climatechange.govt.nz
Itinerary for Hon Pete Hodgson
Travel to Bonn, Germany for international climate change negotiations
Tuesday 17 July 2001
7.30pm Depart Wellington for Bonn via Auckland, Los Angeles, Frankfurt.
Wednesday 18 July
4.40pm Arrive Bonn
Thursday 19 July – Sunday 22 July
Participate in resumed Sixth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (COP6.5).
Monday 23 July
10.20am depart Bonn for Wellington via Frankfurt, London, Auckland.
Wednesday 25 July
8.00am arrive Wellington.
Bonn is 10 hours behind NZ time.
ENDS